Government unveils plans for 'swift justice'

Police Minister Nick Herbert says the Government is introducing a series of
measures to speed up the pace of delivering justice for minor offences.

1:41PM BST 13 Jul 2012

Officers will have to apply a “justice test” to consider if the crime should be dealt with in court, amid fears that too many serious offenders are escaping with a slap on the wrist.

Prosecutors and judges will also be told to deal with cases more quickly, as they did during last summer’s riots, while courtrooms will stay open longer and make better use of video technology in order to reduce delays.

Courts will be told to ditch their “archaic love of paper” and move into a more modern and open era in which important information will be published online, including the names of convicted criminals.